Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers, Sermon 5

Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers · Sermon 5

p. 146SERMON V.

REV. III. 5.

He that Overcometh, the ſame ſhall be cloathed in White raiment, and I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life; But I will confeſs his name before my Father, and before the Angels.

THeſe words contain another of thoſe Promiſes made to Overcomers; 'tis the Concluſion of that Epiſtle to the Church in Sardis; The Officers and Members were moſtly unſound, hence ſtiled Hypocrical Sardis by ſome; She had a name to live, but was dead; verſe 1. A name p. 147ſhe had in the World, and a name amongſt other Churches; but, nomen inane, crimen immane, as one ſaid, an empty name is a great crime. Alexander the Conquerour commanded him that was of his name, but a coward, either to lay down his name or fight couragiouſly; ſo in ſome reſpects it's better not to have the name of Chriſtians upon us, when nothing of the life and power of Chriſtianity is in us: What could a ſhew of vivacity and vigorouſneſs profit them, when indeed they were little better than dead, in a ſpiritual Lethargy, or dead Palſey? or like a Body ſome Members whereof are dead, though not all? This was the caſe of this Church, ſhe was dead whilſt ſhe lived, ſeemed alive to others, but dead to God; I have not found thy works perfect before God, ſays Chriſt to her, verſe 2. foreign, full, as the word ſignifies; They might be full before men who can ſee only the outward appearance, but otherwiſe before God, life-leſs, heartleſs ſervices in his ſight who looketh chiefly there; Omnis Sarmatarum virtus extra ipſos, as p. 148Tacitus of old ſpake of them. Thus it was here, their works were fair and ſpacious in ſhew, but ſhored up by popularity or other low reſpects, and ſo could not with their dead works acceptably ſerve the living God: The taint and infection of Hypocriſy, if predominant, is pernicious to all good works; This being their condition, Chriſt gives directions for their cure and recovery; He calls upon them to be watchful and ſtrive to ſtrengthen that which is ready to dye; verſe 2. as if he had ſaid, ſome among you have yet ſome good in you, though it be but in a languiſhing condition, in a ſwound and ready to expire: now when perſons are to dye, the watch-candle had not need go out, thoſe about them had need be waking and diligent; ſo when good is declining and dying, then need there is to be watchful, leaſt the little remaining ſpark be quite extinct: To move them to this and other means of recovery, he threatens if they did it not, he would come upon them as a thief, when they were ſecure, unexpectedly, as thieves do p. 149upon men aſleep; and Calamity the more ſudden, the more terrible: partly becauſe it exanimates a man, makes his heart faint and fail, as an unexpected ſtorm doth a Marriner; Partly, becauſe it can as little be prevented as a weak Family can prevent thieves breaking in upon them at unawares: by this he moves them to rouſe up themſelves, and ſhake them out of this ſinful Lethargy, as Sampſon went out and ſhook him, when the Philiſtines were upon him; which if they did not, he would come in an hour when they looked not for him, and take away all their deſirable enjoyments from them, and leave them ſpoiled and deſtitute: On the other hand, he ſubjoyns a comfortable promiſe to all ſuch as ſhould overcome thoſe predominant diſtempers now upon them, which the Text holds forth to them, and to us in them: The ſum of which you have in the Doctrine, which is,

Doct. That Overcomers ſhall be eminently clothed, their names indelibly recorded, and openly acknowledged, by Jeſus Chriſt. Here are three things:

p. 1501. Overcomers ſhall be eminently clothed: The ſame ſhall be clothed in white Raiment, ſays Chriſt here; They ſhall not be found naked, being covered with the Covering which is of Gods Spirit, Iſaiah 30.1. This clothing is no other than Chriſt himſelf, who is the ſpiritual Garment every true Believer puts on, according to that exhortation of the Apoſtle Paul to the Romans, Put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 13.14. A Text by reading and pondering whereof St. Auſtin confeſſes he was converted. This foreign does imply foreign. That Chriſt is the Chriſtians Veſtment, his Spiritual clothing and apparel: The meaning then is, Overcomers ſhall be covered all over with Chriſt: clothed with his Merit and Righteouſneſs, and ſo be juſtified: He is made of God, to ſuch, Righteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 1.30. So ſome underſtand that of the Prophet Iſaiah, chap. 61.10. he, ſpeaking of God, hath clothed me with the Robe of Righteouſneſs, he hath put upon me the Garments of Salvation; meaning Chriſt, ſalvatorem & juſtificatorem noſtrum, who covers p. 151Believers with his own Righteouſneſs, as with a precious Robe of Salvation. He doth not only redeem them with his Blood, being a Lamb ſlain, ſed etiam lams operuit, as one excellently ſaith; He covers them with his Fleece, with his Wool; meaning his own Righteouſneſs. More particularly, he covers the very Nature; for no created Nature can behold God; the very Seraphims with their Wings cover their Faces before his glorious Preſence, Iſa. 6.2. much leſs can the Nature of man ſtand before his Majeſty without a Chriſt. He covereth the ſins of all Believers; the loathſom habitual Sore of our natural deformity: On which account Chriſt ſaith to his Church, Thou art all fair, my Love, there is no ſpot in thee: All their Actual Sins alſo, the uglineſs and filthineſs of them is by this covered, together with all the Spots and Imperfections of their Holy Duties.

It's obſervable, That the Mercy-ſeat under the Law covered the two Tables of the Decalogue, Exod. 25. This Mercy-Seat typified Chriſt, who is called p. 152foreign, Rom. 3.25. as the Mercy-Seat is, Heb. 9.5. The Cherubims covered the Mercy-Seat, and the Mercy-Seat covered the Ark, in which were the two Tables of the Law: So Chriſt is that Covering-Mercy-Seat that covers all the ſins of Believers againſt the Law of God, ſo that he imputes it not to them: They are likewiſe clothed with the Graces of Chriſt, thoſe Habitual Graces and Vertues in Chriſt are implanted into them; He was full of Grace, and of his Fulneſs they all do receive, and Grace for Grace, Joh. 1.14.16. Their Impatience is clothed with his Patience, their Pride is clothed with his Humility, their Frowardneſs with his Meekneſs, their Ignorance with his Wiſdom and Knowledg, their Unbelief with his Faith, and the like. In a word, He ſo covers them as they are ſecure from thoſe hurts and miſchiefs that otherwiſe they lye open to: They are ſecured from Divine Wrath and Vengeance; which elſe they can no more avoid, than a naked man can fence off Fire; Chriſt and his Graces are the Skreen between p. 153them and everlaſting Burnings. They are by this alſo ſecured from Satan's aſſaults, to whoſe fiery darts they are liable to be expoſed, having no other way to evade the deſtroying dint and power of them, but to be covered with the Armour of Light and Righteouſneſs; this put on by Faith, quencheth the fiery darts of that wicked one, Epheſ. 6.16. Secured they are alſo from the terrible ſtings and laſhes of an accuſing Conſcience: By his Blood their hearts are ſprinkled from an evil Conſcience, Heb. 10.22. As our bodily Garments are, Munimenta corporis, a kind of a moveable Garriſon, as one ſtiles them, in which the Body marches and is defended from many Inconveniences; ſo is Chriſt to the Souls of all that Overcome. The ſum of this Promiſe then amounts to this in the General; That Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs ſhall be effectually applied to their particular perſons. The clothing of the Body is the application of Apparel to the Body; ſo Chriſt is and ſhall be appropriated and applied to Believers, whereby they ſhall be as p. 154fully poſſeſs'd of him, as a man is of the Garments with which he is clothed; they ſhall have him as their own, to all holy and good ends appointed. It's a thing of high moment, conſidering (as hath been hinted) how he is fitted every way to our condition. As there muſt be a fitneſs between the Clothes, and the perſon who is to wear them; ſo there is in this caſe. An High-Prieſt he is, and ſuch as became us, as is ſuited and fitted to our circumſtances; we obnoxious to Wrath, he is our Peace; we unjuſt, he Righteous; we dead, he is Life; we poor, he is Rich; we deformed, he Lovely; we filthy, he Holy: With this clothing are Overcomers inveſted, and continue ever thus clothed. As the putting off the old man is ſo done, as they never put him on again; ſo the putting on Chriſt's Righteouſneſs and Graces is ſo done, as they never put it off more, but ſtand before God in this clothing to all Eternity. And that we may yet a little further ſee and be affected with the ſweetneſs of this Promiſe, it is ſaid, They ſhall be clothed with p. 155white Raiment; which notes Purity, Dignity, Beauty and Feſtivity.

1. It notes Purity; White Garments are clean, free from Pollution and Defilement. We read of Joſhua having filthy Garments upon him, Zech. 3.3. The tattered Rags of the old Adam, the naſty Filthineſs and ſuperfluity of Naughtineſs that yet remained in him, (though in part regenerate) and intermingled with his beſt works. Should God break open that filthy ſink of Sin that is in the beſt of us, we ſhould not only be loathſome to God and to men, but to our ſelves alſo. I have read of one Mr. Lever, who deſired of God he might ſee his utmoſt uncleanneſs, who gave him his requeſt: He ſaw his Sins in ſuch ugly colours, as cauſed him to go down Mourning to his grave. Now Joſhua found Grace in the Lord's ſight, and had his filthy garments taken away from him, and was cloathed with change of Raiment, verſ. 4. His rags were changed into Robes, his polluted garments into clean Clothing: He was arrayed with that fine and clean Linnen, which is the p. 156Righteouſneſs of Saints, Rev. 19.8. Thus the Lord takes upon him their ſin, and puts on them his pure and ſpotleſs Righteouſneſs. A bleſſed exchange indeed! Chriſt puts upon Overcomers his own Comlineſs, decks them with his own Purity, to take away all their Defilements.

2. It notes Dignity and Honour: In old time when Men were dignified for any Service done to their Prince, they were clothed with the White Raiment; Thus when Ahaſuerus the King would put Honour upon Mordecai, he cauſed him to be clothed with a Garment of Royal Apparel, White and Blue, Eſth. 8 15. ſuch as Kings and great Ones uſed to wear: What ſhall be done to the man, ſaies the forenamed King to: Haman, that the King delights to honour? Who anſwereth thus, Let the Royal Apparel be brought that the King uſeth to wear, that they may array that man withal, Eſth. 6.6, 7, 8, 9. As if he had ſaid, Let the Keepers of the Wardrobe bring forth the Kings moſt Sumptuous Apparel, that he uſeth to wear p. 157when he ſitteth in State, and put it upon him in the beſt manner they can. Thus ſhall he that Overcometh be arraied with Honourable Clothing, like the Favoutites, yea the Children of the King of Kings; The Everlaſting Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, a Garment ſo Honourable as never yet came upon the back of an Angel: Such honour have all his Saints, to ſtand before him in this Noble Clothing, peculiar to them in the Houſe and Family of this great King of Heaven.

3. It intimates Beauty and Glory; This is alſo ſet out by the colour of white; ſo when Chriſt was transfigured on the Mount, his face did ſhine as the ſun, and his raiment was white as the light, that is, it ſhined with an extraordinary ſplendour and brightneſs, Mat. 17.2. We find the countenance of the Angel, Mat. 28.3. to be like lightning, and his raiment white as ſnow; and two other (called men, appearing in humane ſhape) in white apparel, that is, very glorious and beautiful, Acts 1.10. Thus Overcomers ſhall be clothed in white Raiment, p. 158they ſhall walk with me in white; ſaith Chriſt, Rev. 3.4. in great Beauty and Glory: The Kings Daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is of wrought gold, Pſal. 45.10. Yea, they are ſaid to be clothed with the ſun, Rev. 12.1. Cloth of Gold is accounted very glorious, but if a man were clothed with the natural Sun, he would be much more bright and beautiful. How renowned for beauty are they then who are clothed with the Sun of Righteouſneſs? Some who have no natural beauty, yet appear amiable by their fine ſhining Garments; They are for Ornament, and are to the Body as rich Hangings or coſtly Varniſh over a wall of Clay, which make it look better than elſe it would; as the Poet ſaith, Viro veſtis magnum decus addit honeſta; Such a garment is Chriſt, he adorns the Soul, and gives it a rich and perfect beauty; He is ſet out by the wedding-garment, Mar. 22.12. The High Prieſts garments of old were but types of this, which were made for beauty and glory, Exod. 28.2. All the comlineſs of the Saints, is by reaſon of this beautiful p. 159dreſs in which they are attired: This is that Raiment of Needle-work which is a great Ornament to them, though outwardly in rags or mean clothing. He is a Crown and Diadem upon the head; Signified by that fair Miter which was ſet upon Joſhua's head, Zach. 3.5. which hath its name from compaſſing about, becauſe it invironed the High Prieſts head. It had a holy Crown with it, Exod. 29.6. ſignifying the Deity and Dignity of Chriſt. It had alſo upon the forefront of it a plate of pure gold with this engraving, Holineſs to the Lord; who is ſaid to be glorious in Holineſs. All ſhews what excellent beauty and glory is put upon the Overcomer clothed with this white Raiment.

4. It ſignifies feſtivity and rejoycing; Black is the mourning colour, white is the colour of delight and joy: They uſed white Garments at Feaſts and joyful Solemnities: Hence that of Solomon, Let thy garments be always white, Eccl. 9.8. Not abſolutely, but in all proper ſeaſons of rejoycing. The very beaſts on which they rode in triumph to praiſe the Lord p. 160for victory over their Enemies were of this colour; They rode on white Aſſes, Judg. 5.10. That great mercy of Abſolution is ſet out to us under the notion of a white ſtone, Rev. 2.17. To ſignify what ground of ſpiritual joy they have whoſe ſin is pardoned. The ſenſe then is, Overcomers ſhall be filled with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. Glorious, becauſe this joy is a taſte of future Glory, or elſe becauſe it made them glorious in the eyes of men: The Kingdom of God is joy in the Holy-Ghoſt, Rom. 14.17. When they are worſted by their Enemies, they are filled with heavineſs; but if at any time they lead captivity captive, and can get their feet upon the neck of thoſe that hate them, then their ſorrow is turned into joy, and their joy ſhall no man take away from them. When Iſrael (or rather God for Iſrael) overcame Pharaoh and his Hoſts, Then ſang Iſrael a joyful ſong unto the Lord, Exod. 15. Thus ſhall all victorious Souls have their mouths filled with laughter, and their tongues with ſinging, and ſay, The Lord hath done great things for us, p. 161whereof we are glad; Great is the ſhouting and rejoycing of Soldiers when they get a Victory, and with much better joy ſhall they be clothed and filled, who conquer in this holy war. This is the firſt thing here promiſed.

2. Rea. Overcomers names are indelibly recorded by Jeſus Chriſt; who here aſſures them of it, ſaying, I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life. A Metaphorical expreſſion alſo; we read of the book of Scripture, the book of Nature, the book of Conſcience, and here and in other places of the book of Life, and that the names of men are written there, and thoſe once engraven never ſhall be obliterated, Phil. 4.3. Rev. 13.8. There we find the Lambs book of Life, wherein are names written from the foundation of the world; The phraſe is taken from the enrolling of Citizens and Soldiers, that they may be known to be ſuch. The promiſe implies, That Overcomers are dear and precious in the eyes of Chriſt; It is in matters of ſome concernment that things are committed to writing, which men will carefully p. 162keep, that nothing be expunged or blotted out: This is ſeen in Jeremiah and others, who cauſed Writings to be drawn and preſerved upon weighty occaſions. Chriſt hath an high eſteem of Valiant and Conquering Chriſtians, they are written before him; yea, they are written within him, engraven in his Knowledg and Remembrance, and in his Love and Affections, as very dear unto him. As the Names of the Tribes were written upon Stones, which the High-Prieſt bare on his Breaſt-plate, when he went into the moſt holy Place: Even ſo the names of all Believers are written upon the heart of Chriſt, to ſhew how precious they are to him. Queen Mary ſaid, If ſhe were opened after her Death, they ſhould find Calice written in her heart. Were Faith duely exerciſed, we might ſee Believers engraven upon Chriſt's heart; and this Book ſhall never admit one of the Names in it to be croſſed out. If a Pilate could ſay, Quod ſcripſi, ſcripſi; What I have written, I have written: Chriſt much more. There are no Errata, and therefore no Deleatur p. 163in the Book of Life. And who ſhould blot them out? Not Men or Angels, for it is a Sealed Book to them; not their Sins, (which yet they fear more than the former) for they themſelves are blotted out by the hand of Free-Grace; I, even I, am he, that blotteth out thy Tranſgreſſions for mine own ſake, Iſa. 43.25. As a Creditor takes his Pen and blots out the Debt, or as men cancel Bills of Indictment, ſo doth God (to ſpeak of him after the manner of men) dip his pen in the Blood of his Son, and daſhes out the Hand-writings againſt them, and cancels all thoſe large Bills: And this not as men blot things out that are written upon Paper, where great blurs remain, and they may poſſibly be read again; but as a Cloud, as a thick Cloud, Iſa. 44.22. The Sun ſo ſcatters and blots out the Clouds, that there is nothing of them to be ſeen; their ſins are ſo done away, as not to he remembred any more; are as if they had never been. As a Table-Book, waſh it, and there is no appearance of any thing written there; ſo hath the Lord removed their p. 164Iniquities: and having blotted out their ſins for his Name's ſake, will not blot out their Names for their ſins ſake. So then it remains, that none but Chriſt can blot out their Names; for he is the Maſter of the Rolls, and keeps this Book in his own poſſeſſion, and he hath prevented all fears of it, by his own ſolemn Promiſe in the Text.

Object. Againſt this ſome object theſe two Scriptures, Exod. 32.32, 33. Moſes ſaid, Blot me out of thy Book. Whoſoever hath ſinned againſt me, ſaies God, him will I blot out of my Book: eſpecially that, Rev. 22.19. It any man ſhall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy, God ſhall take away his part out of the Book of Life.

Anſw. As for that place in Exodus, ſome carry it, as if Moſes deſired in the former verſe to loſe his part in a better Life than is here to be enjoyed, even Eternal Life, rather than God be thus diſhonoured and blaſphemed; but think it a ſinful deſire, or great zeal at the beſt with a mixture of corrupt paſſion in it: But others underſtand it of the Book of Records, p. 165in which mens names were Regiſtred. Princes uſe to keep ſuch Books, in which were ſet. down the Names of thoſe that had done them any ſpecial Service: Mordecai's name was recorded in ſuch a Book, and how he acted to preſerve the King's Life, Eſth. 6. And this was much Self-denial in Moſes, to be willing to have his Name razed out thence for the Peoples good. Moſes rather deſired not to live, than that all the people involved in that ſin ſhould dye; willing to have his Name blotted out of the Church Records, than the people come under this great Judgment. Like that wiſh of St. Paul, Rom. 9.3. who wiſhed himſelf accurſed from Chriſt, for his Brethren and Kinſmen according to the fleſh. Some ſay, Such was his Love to his Kindred, that if it had been conſiſtent with the Will of God, he deſired to have redeemed the caſting away of the Iſraelites, with the loſs of his own Soul for ever: But beſides that, this deſire was impoſſible to be accompli…hed, it would have been ſinful. By this foreign, or being Accurſed from Chriſt, p. 166he means only to be Excommunicated from the Church, which is called Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12.12. Which argued a high Affection to his Relations. And as to the other place, God's taking away their part out of the Book of Life, is no more than to manifeſt they have no part therein; and hence we find the Scripture ſpeaking of ſome, Whoſe Names were not written in the Lambs Book of Life from the Foundation of the world, Rev. 13.8. God will declare them to be ſuch, as were not Predeſtinated from all Eternity to be ſaved by the Death of Chriſt. Some there are not written in this Book; but none written there ſhall be blotted out. That's the Second Particular.

3. Rea. Chriſt will confeſs the names of Overcomers before his Father, and before his Angels; as if he had ſaid, I will own and acknowledg him, as he hath owned and acknowledged me: They have confeſſed him before men, and he hath promiſed to confeſs ſuch before his Father, Mat. 10.32. The meaning is, that Chriſt will publickly own them in the great Day of Judgment, p. 167and will openly profeſs their well-tried Faith and other victorious Graces, and they ſhall be found to Honour, Praiſe, and Glory at his appearing, 1 Pet. 1.7. Then he will avouch them to be his Children, ſaying, Father, Behold, I and the Children which thou haſt given me, Iſa. 8.18. Eſther, though advanced to Honour with the King, own'd her Relation to Mordecai, and told him what he was unto her, Eſth. 8.1. Joſeph, though advanced to great Dignity and a chief Favourite in Pharaoh's Court, yet owned and confeſſed his poor Relations, even before the King and his Courtiers, Gen. 47. Even ſo will Chriſt at that day own his victorious Servants and Soldiers before the King of Kings, and all thoſe glorious Courtiers of Heaven, the holy Angels. A taſte of this he gave, when he was here on Earth; When ſome told him, his Relations ſtood without deſiring to ſpeak with him, he pointed to his Diſciples, and ſaid, Behold my Mother, and my Brethren: For whoſoever doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven, the ſame is my Mother, and p. 168Siſter, and Brother, Mat. 12.49, 50. Here he freely owns and confeſſes his Spiritual Kindred, and prefers them before his bare natural Relations.

So we find him making a report of their excellency who were his Diſciples unto God his Father, ſaying, I have manifeſted thy Name to the men whom thou gaveſt me out of the world, and they have kept thy word, Joh. 17.6. Here he makes an honourable mention of their laying up his words in their hearts, and keeping to it in their lives: And though as yet they were but weak, yet he doth notably commend their good beginnings to his Father. What will he do then at laſt, when they ſhall have perfectly overcome? We find it recorded of John the Baptiſt, that he confeſſed and denied not, but confeſſed, I am not the Chriſt; and after owned him and pointed at him, ſaying, Behold the Lamb of God, verſ. 29. John is plain and bold, ingenuous and conſtant in his teſtimony of Chriſt, renonuncing the honour due to his Maſter, and confeſſing and declaring Chriſt in the dignity and excellency of p. 169his Office, ſhewing them how he was to execute the ſame for their good and benefit; which was by Suffering; and therefore points him out as the ſubſtance of the Paſſover, and daily Sacrifices who by the Merit and Vertue of his Death takes away the ſin of his own, both Jews and Gentiles. And did John loſe by this his reſolute Confeſſion? No, not even here; for Chriſt did as freely confeſs, and make an honourable mention of him, For, ſaith he, among them that are born of women, there hath not riſen a greater than John the Baptiſt, Mat. 11.11. Becauſe he was Chriſt's immediate Forerunner; now the nearer to Chriſt, the more excellent. He prefers him not only before all the Prophets, but all others that were born before him. This is but the beginning of what Confeſſion ſhall be more fully made of the Names of all that overcome in the great day of the Lords coming to Judgment. The Ʋſes follow:

Ʋſe 1. See hence the miſerable eſtate of all who overcome not, but are fatally and finally overcome in their warring p. 170againſt theſe enemies of our Salvation: They have neither part nor lot in theſe precious Promiſes; yea, the quite contrary things will be their Portion. Inſtead of being clothed in white raiment, in token of Purity, Dignity, Beauty and Feſtivity, they will at laſt appear in all their filthy Rags and menſtruous Garments; clothed with Shame, and covered with confuſion of Face. His enemies, ſaith God of David, will I clothe with ſhame, Pſal. 132.18. Much more thoſe that dye in their enmity to himſelf. Their Names are written in the Earth, and will be blotted out from under Heaven, Deut. 29.20. They ſhall not be written among the living in Jeruſalem, but regiſtred among the dead, as thoſe that are Eternally forgotten of God. Inſtead of confeſſing him, he will profeſs, He never knew them, Mat. 7.23. He will be aſhamed of them before his Father, and before all his Angels, as they were of him, and of his words before men, Mark 8.38. A Figurative Speech, and ſpoken of Chriſt, after the manner of men, for our capacity: Not that p. 171Chriſt ſhall then be ſubject to any ſhame, or be affected with it; but that he ſhall ſo carry himſelf towards ſuch as have been aſhamed of him, aſhamed to own his Truth, and engage to fight in his Cauſe, as men are wont to do towards thoſe of whoſe company and acquaintance they are aſhamed; that is to ſay, That he will not acknowledg them for his Saints, Servants, or Soldiers; but utterly refuſe, reject, and caſt them off, as wicked and reprobate. They who now deny to fight under his Banner, or profeſſing ſo to do, ſhall yield to the Enemy, be overcome and recover not, riſe not by true Repentance, theſe will Chriſt deny before his Father, and before all Men and Angels.

Ʋſe 2. Here is yet further Encouragement to all to ſtrive to Overcome: Whoſe heart can ſink into diſcouragement? whoſe Faith can fail, that reads and duely conſiders the ſweet Cordials in this Text? You ſhall be clothed with white Raiment, by Chriſt's own hand it ſhall be put upon you: White inwardly, as well as outwardly. Not like the p. 172Phariſees, whited Sepulchres, outwardly beautiful, but within full of rottenneſs and dead mens bones; but as the King's Daughter, All glorious within, Pſal. 45. Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like a Lily of the field, Mat. 6.29. The moſt ſplendid and gorgeous Robes of the greateſt Monarch, are not to be compared unto this clothing. This is the beſt Robe, ſpoken of, Luke 15. which the Father commanded to be brought forth, and put upon his returning Son; who by Repentance and converting Grace overcame all his former vicious and evil Converſation: This is durable Raiment. God did miraculouſly preſerve the Garments of the Iſraelites from waxing old, Deut. 8.4. But they were otherwiſe the worſe for the wearing, as we ſay of all other Garments. But this clothing waxeth not old, is as freſh upon the Overcomer, after he hath worn it Thouſands of Years, as it was the firſt day it was put put upon him. The rich man, we read of in the Goſpel, was clothed with Purple, Luke 16.19. But Overcomers with Cloth of Gold. Her p. 173clothing is of wrought Gold, Pſal. 45.13. Yea, far more precious than Gold that periſhes. He that yields to his Luſts and other Enemies, rejects this raiment; and does like him we read of, Luk. 8.27. that wore no clothes, and would ſuffer none to be put upon him. Is it not great encouragement then that is here promiſed, that none ſhall be ſo well arraid as the Overcomer? When that man was cured of his Madneſs, he ſate at Jeſus feet clothed and in his right mind, verſ. 35. None come rightly to themſelves but will fight couragiouſly, and ſtrive to be victorious, ſince their Rags and poor Apparel here they many times wear, ſhall be converted into ſuch rich clothing. And ſo, what a ſweet Promiſe is it that follows? I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life. When ſome came to Chriſt, rejoycing that they wrought Miracles, and particularly caſt out Devils in his Name, he corrects them as miſtaking the true ground of Joy, and points them to the right, Rejoyce not in this that, the Spirits are ſubject to you; but rather rejoyce in p. 174this, that your Names are written in Heaven, Luk. 10.20. out of the reach of all your Enemies, they can never caſt a blot upon them. Here they blot them with Reproaches, and vile Aſperſions, as Joſeph's Miſtreſs did him: Here they blot out, excommonucate and caſt out their Names as vile and odious; but ſtill they remain written in Heaven, and ſhall be had in everlaſting Remembrance. So to be confeſſed by Chriſt at laſt before God, Angels and Men, when others ſhall be diſcarded with a Diſcedite a me, neſcio vos; Depart from me, I know you not. What Favour and Comfort will it give Overcomers? Having therefore theſe Promiſes, let nothing daunt or diſmay us; nothing is more unbeſeeming the Royal Spirit of a Chriſtian. Say not, the Devil is ſo malicious, the World ſo enſnaring, the Heart ſo deceitful, our Attempts againſt them ſo fruitleſs, we ſhall one day periſh by our Enemies hand. Is this the language of Heaven? Are theſe the words of Faith? Is this the voice of the Scripture, and not rather the whiſperings of the Old Serpent? p. 175The fruit of ſlaviſh Fear and Unbelief? Is not the voice of God quite contrary? Doth not he ſay, I will pour clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean; from all your Iniquities and from all your Idols I will cleanſe you? The God of Peace ſhall tread down Sathan under your feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. That whatſoever is born of God, overcometh the world, 1 Joh. 5.4. Has he ſaid it, and ſhall it not come to paſs? Is not he faithful that hath promiſed? Why then ſhould we be faint-hearted? Why ſhould we ſuffer our Fears to diſanimate and diſpirit us? Let us not be like thoſe unbelieving timerous Spies, who ſaid, Canaan was a good Land, but there were Anakims, Giants; and by bringing an evil report, diſheartned the people, and were ſhut out by God, Joſh. 6. But let us all beg a Caleb-like Spirit, whereby we may follow God fully, as he did, Numb. 14.24. and our Enemies ſhall not ſtand before us. Give a Soldier Courage, and you give him all; But take away his Heart, and then he is almoſt dead before he ſtrike a ſtroak: It is a Seal to his Overthrow, p. 176and a great advantage to the Enemy: This evil of Unbelief and ſlaviſhneſs of Spirit, doth us more hurt than all our Enemies can do. When Saul was afraid, he had not a heart to ſtrike a ſtroke, but went to the Witch, &c. 1 Sam, 28.4, 5. Were we valiant to the Battle, God would ſay as he did of old to Joſhua and Iſrael, Your enemies ſhall not be able to ſtand before you: Obſerve therefore the language of their enemies, I know the Lord will give you the Land, for your terrour is fallen upon us, ſay they, and all the Inhabitants of the Land faint becauſe of you. Aſſoon as we heard theſe things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more Courage in any man, becauſe of you, Joſh. 2.9-11. We cannot pleaſe the Enemies better, than to ſay, We ſhall never overcome them; for then they pluck up their Spirits, and hope the day ſhall be theirs: and God is much diſpleaſed; and what if he ſhould ſay, It ſhall be as we ſpeak, we ſhall never get Victory? Oh! Let us not provoke him to leave us to the power of our Adverſaries. Chriſt p. 177was wont to ſay, According to your Faith, ſo be it unto you: And he is of the ſame mind ſtill. Oh provoke him not to ſay, According to your Fears, according to your Unbelief, ſo be it unto you: Only believe, and we ſhall ſee the Glory of God, as Chriſt ſaid to Martha, Joh. 11.40. Lift up your hands that hang down, and your feeble knees, and know that the Battle is not to the ſtrong. Though the Enemy be ſtrong and you weak, yet exerciſe but Faith upon the Mighty God, and the day is yours. The Difficulties and Dangers ſhould rather animate, and raiſe the Spirit and Faith of a Chriſtian, than diſcourage. Alexander, in a great difficulty, would ſay, Hoc eſt periculum par animo Alexandri; Here's a danger, or a difficulty, fit for the Spirit and Courage of Alexander to encounter with. Have not Chriſtians reaſon then to be courageous, and when great and hard Service appears, and called to engage in the heat of the Battle, to ſay, Here is a piece of Service fit for Believers to go p. 178through? Theſe are Dangers and Difficulties for true Chriſtians, who go out againſt the Enemy, as David did againſt Goliah, in the Name and Strength of the Lord: Be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might, and the Victory is yours. Methinks Believers ſhould do as of old Eleazar did, who fought till his hand clave unto his Sword, and the Lord wrought a great Victory that day, 2 Sam 23.9, 10. Let not Faith be aſleep in a dead Habit; a Giant may be overcome aſleep: Sampſon was conquered by the Philiſtines, being aſleep on Delilahs Lap. Sin and Satan get great advantages upon ſecure Souls. Let none be diſcouraged, ſaying, The Enemy riſe afreſh upon us; let us look to the Captain of our Salvation for a freſh Supply of his Spirit, and we ſhall prevail. I conclude with Joab's encouraging words to his Soldiers, Be of good Courage, and let us play the men for our People, and for the Cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which ſeemeth him good, 2 Sam. 10.12. So I ſay, Let us be of good Courage p. 179in this Cauſe of God and our Souls, and leave the iſſue unto God, who will bring us off Conquerors, and cauſe us to inherit the good of theſe Promiſes in the Text.